Ear-clamp.



C. F. MARKHAM.

EAR CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. 19i5.

1 a 1 1 7% Q I Patented Mar. 7, 1916,

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M M Gum CHARLES I. MARKHAM, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

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To all'whom it may concern:

Be'it known that'I, CHARLES "F. MARK.- HAM,'a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident'of the city of Providence, in the county ofProvidence and State of RhodeIsland, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Ear-Clamps, of which the followingis'aspecification.

' This invention relates to ear clamps by which ornaments may be readilyattached to the ear-lobe'of the wearer and the object of this inventionis to provide a jointed frame having ear engaging means at its ends anda spring acting? on thepivoted members to close their endsagainstopposite sides of the lobe of the ear. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a pair \of manipulatinghandles on the frame members by the use of which the device may bereadily positioned and the itrkms of the frame opened to receivethe ear-0 e. 1 1 A further object of the invention is to provide a stop to limitthe closing motion of the frame arms. I

With these and, other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features yof construction, as will be more fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims. o

' In the accompanying drawings: Figure .1- is a side elevation partly insection illustrating my improved ear clamp. Fig. 2 is a detail of onemember of the clamp as struck from sheet-stock. Fig. 3- is a view of theother member of the clamp as struck from sheet-stock. Fig. 4- is asectional elevation on line 4--4= of Fig. 1 looking in the direction ofthe arrow.

Referring to the drawings the frame of the device is made substantiallyin a U- shape, the main member 11 of which is preferably stamped out ofsheet-stock into the form illustrated in Fig. 2, in which an earengaging portion 12 is formed on the outer end of the narrow arm 11,which ear-enaging portion may be made in any desired form, but I haveshown the same as being provided with prongs 13 which may be, bent up toserve as a setting for a jewel or other ornamentation 14, the backportion of the pad being preferably formed rounding or concavo-convex incross section. The opposite end of the arm 11 is also provided with anenlarged boss '15 offset one-half' of its thickness and is provided witha central Specification of Letters Patent.

I Patented Mar. '7, 1916.

i Application filed April 24, 1915. Serial No. 23,743.

opening 16 for the reception ofthe pivot screw 18. An extending fingeror handle 19 s formed on'the side of this arm adjacent its boss portion15-for the purpose presently described, andia slight projection 20 isalso formed on the boss portion'on the opposite SIdB'ZEIOm that ofithehandle. This frame is provided with another .andshorter arm member 21also formed of sheet-stock, Which arm has an ear-lobe engagingportion22,the same being preferably provided with, a central opening 23 intowhichv the fleshof the ear-lobe is crowded when the pads are in engagedposition to better retain the clamp imposition thereon. The oppositeendof thlsarm, like arm 11, is provided with a f corresponding boss 24.havingv a central threaded opening 25 therethrough for receiving thethreaded end 17 of the pivot screw 18. On this arm is another outwardlyextending operating handle 26 adjacent the;

screw 18, thereby forming a joint .orhinge 1 between them. In order tocausethese ear engaging members 12 and 22 to swing toward each other andengage or grip the earlobe (shown in dotted lines) between them,

of the yoke,' butv I do .not wish to be restricted to this constructionof spring as any desired form' of spring maybeemployed for producing aclosing action between the arms of this frame or yoke.

It is found in practice that my improved device is so very small that itis necessary to provide means whereby it may be engaged by the thumb andfinger of the wearer in order to manipulate the same, therefore, toaccomplish this, I have provided ,two cooperating handles 19 and 26connected respectively to the different members of the frame, wherebythe device may be readily positioned and the arms opened to receive andthen close upon the lobe of the ear with a soft, elastic pressure toyieldingly bind and secure the clamp thereto without danger of losingthe same, and all of this manipulation both the opening of the arms andpositioning of the device may be accomplished by the use of but onehand, leaving the other hand free to stiffen the ear lobe for thereception of the clamp. Another feature of the invention is that stoplugs 20 and 27 are provided one on each of these members, whereby theclosing movement of the frame arms is limited. It will be noted in myimproved ear clamp that 'the jointed portion and the operating handlesare all arranged so that when the device is positioned on the ear of thewearer, they will be back of the lobe and practically out of sightalthough as a matter of fact these members are so very smallthat theyare not unsightly and are ing a setting, the other end being providedwith an integral lateral projection forming ahandle, a second memberhaving an earengaging-portion at one end positioned opposite the firstnamed ear-engaging portion and provided at its other end withan integrallateral projection forming a handle, means for pivotally connecting thehandle ends of said members, and a spring acting to force saidear-engaging portions normally toward each other. r

2. An ear clamp comprising a main member having one end provided with anearengaging portion having means for support- 'ing a setting, the otherendbeing provided I with an integral lateral projection forming ahandle, a second member having an ear- 1 engaging portion at one endpositioned opposite thefirst named ear-engaging portion and provided atits other end with an integral lateral projection forming a handle,means for pivotally. connecting the handle ends of said members, and aspring acting to force said ear-engaging portions normally toward eachother, each of said members having an abutment shoulder adjacent thehandle, said shoulders cooperating to limit pivotal movement of saidmembers under the action of said spring.

3. An ear clamp comprising a main member of approximately U-shapeprovided with a long arm and a short arm, .the long arm being providedat its end with an ear-engaging portion having means for supporting asetting, the short arm being provided with an integral lateralprojection .forming a handle, a second member having an ear-engagingportion at one end positioned opposite the first named ear-engagingportion and provided at its other end with an integral lateralprojection forming, a handle, means for pivotally connecting the handleends of said members, and a spring acting to force said ear-engagingportionsnormally toward each other. 4. An ear clamp comprlsing a mainmember having one end rovided withan ear- .engaging portion having meansfor supporting a setting, the other end being provided with an integrallateral rojection forming a handle, a second mem er having anearengaging portion" at one endpositioned opposite the first namedear-engaging portion and provided at its otherend with an integrallateral projection forming a handle, the ear-engaging portion upon themain member being convexed, the ear-engaging portion on the secondmember being provlded "with an opening extending therethrough,

means for pivotally connecting the handle ends of said members, and aspring acting to force said ear-engagingportions normally toward eachother.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' CHARLES F. MARKHAM. Witnesses:

HOWARD E. BARLOW, A. F. MACREADY.

